buurdinx



E. BUURDIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE commuous PRODUCTION OF WEFTLESS FABRICS.

APFUCATHJN HLED FEB. X5. 1915 1,1 95,554. Patvnted Au 19m 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. BOURDIN. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION or WEFTLESS FABRICS.

APPLICATION I'iLED 8.16, 1915.

Patvntvd Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

jaw/4 fl iMMv/k/ Gil A 14.71122 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIIiEZ EUGENE BoUnDm, or LYON, FRANCE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF WTEFTLESS FABRIJS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 19f 6.

Application filed February 16, 1315. Serial No. 8,602.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE Bonnnm, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Lyon, in France, have invented a certain new and useful Method and Apparatus for the Continuous Production of Weftless Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

Hitherto weftless fabrics that is to say fabrics constituted simply by parallel threads connected together by means of adhesive were manufactured by winding one thread around a cylinder and then cutting through the sleeve thus obtained either par allel to the cylinder or helically around the same. The length and the width of a sheet of fabric thus manu factured depends on the dimensions of" the cylinder, and its size is consequently considerably limited.

The present invention comprises an improved method of manufacture whereby weftless fabrics can be formed in a continu ous manner and of indefinite length, this method being carried out by means of an improved machine hereinafter described.

The method consists in using two parallel warps of threads of indefinite length each warp havin the width which the finished fabric is to have, but each having a number of threads equal to half the total number of threads of the finished fabric; the threads of each of the warps are intcrcalatcd in threads of the other and they are finally stuck to one another, these two operations being affected by means of the machine hereinafter described. The great number of threads which it is necessary to conduct in good order to the said machine necessitates the use of means for guiding them through the machine.

In the annexed drawings, Figure '1 is a diagram illustrating the means for guiding the threads to the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail view on a larger scale, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of the machine. 7

The guiding means diagrammaticall shown in plan in Fig. 1 compri. c incline frames A, A arr' n arcs a; a circle on each side of 4 he, and u spied in are easily accessible to allow of replacement as they are exhausted. The threads B, B coming from the respective frames A, A situated on the same side of the machine are engaged respectively one thread per tooth in vertical combs C, C with wide teeth and carried by the frames. These frames regu' late the distribution of the threads. threads conducted in a horizontai plane pass thre'iugh further vertical combs D, D one thread for each tooth thereof. The teeth of the combs I), D are closer together than those of the combs C, C to bring the ti; ads to the width that the fabric should have.

The machine shown in Fig. 2 guides and stretches the ii ads. b ings them into juxtaposition and coats them with adhesive to cause th m Londhere to one another, and the fabric thus fn" red finally wound on a roller arranged ior ti; purpose.

The threads B and B fed to the machine from the two combs D and I) are passed between pairs-of cylinders F, e, E, e in each of which one cylinder is of metal and the rib?! of metal covered with soft rubber. Shah pressure produced by screws main tains these cylinders in contact and some qucntiy maintains the alinement of the threads when leaving the combs D and D The two half warps respectively formed by the threads B. B then pass through a horizontal comb F held by screws in slides arranged on the frame'of the machine and from which it can be removed as riiiqnired. The teeth of this comb are slightly inciined as shown in Fig. and in each oi the tooth spaces a thread 13' and a thread li engages. Below this comb and at a calculated distance is a fixed bar G having a soft r spongy edge against which the threads B, l bear. At this point. the path of the threads takes a bend and the threads then pass around a cylinder H arranged directly below the bar G. The purpose of this bar is to cause the threads B and B to become These juxtaposed in a single layer, the obliquity of the teeth of the comb F shifts one of the series of threads laterally with respect to the other andfacilitates this juxtaposition. To give the threads B and B uniform tension, the threads B pass over a rotary cylinder I or can be given additional tension in any suitable manner; for example by increasing the pressure between the rollers E and e The cylinder H which receives the threads when they have traversed the edge of the bar G is supported on pivoted bars X also carrying a cylinder J. These two cylinders can be lifted by turning the arms X around their pivots to allow of engaging the threads in the machine and are applied against a drum K of large diameter heated inside by circulating steam. On these cylinders H and J a roller L rests around which the juxtaposed threads pass. The threads are initially coated with adhesive between this roller and the cylinder J which can be cooled by interior circulation of cold water. This first coating is for the purpose of causing the adhesive substance which is used in a pasty condition to penetrate well between the threads. The fabric forms on the drum K the relatively high temperature of which assists the drying of the agglutinant matter. The fabric then passes to the spreader M whereby it is coated with further adhesive; the spreader M is also cooled by circulation of cold water and its distance can be modified with regard to the drum K as well as its inclination to regulate the gumming. The fabric is drawn forward by the drum K, the speed of rotation and the temperature of which are determined so as to assure drying of the fabric when it reaches a water cooled cylinder N. This roller N-is the driving roller of the machine and causes the movement of the fabric by its friction combined with the traction exercised by the winding roller Q. The fabric passes from the cylinder N around a roller 0 and then around a cylinder P driven by suitable means, and is then wound on the final cylinder Q which is driven by friction. A hopper R surrounding that part of the drum K where the drying is eflected retains the vapors from the solvent which are expelled or sucked therefrom by means of a pump.

The machine is actuated by means of a worm S coacting with a pinion T integral with the cylinder N. The shaft U of the worm is driven by a friction disk V by means of angle pinions U, U the said disk V being driven by a friction roller W movable .along its axle so as to vary the speed of the machine at will. Transmission ear Wheels or chains driven by the shaft 0 cylinder N actuate the cylinders P and Q.

Fig. 4 represents diagrammatically in longitudinal section a modification of the machine whereby thefabric can be coated with'adhesive on both surfaces at a single operation, a drying means being provided for the threads at their entrance to the machine. In this modification of the machine the coating of the front surface is obtained as previously explained, firstly between the rollers L and J, then between the knife M and the drum K. For coating the back face the fabric is then calendered between the rollers N and 0. Then the fabric passes from the roller P to a roller 1 on which a regulatable spreader 2 rests, whereby the second coating is effected. The fabric then passes over a water cooled conveying roller 3 and passes to the winding roller Q, after traversing a sufficient distance so that the adhesive can attain a suitable degree of dryness. A cloth 4 fed from a roller 5 winds simultaneously with the fabric on the roller Q and prevents the two faces of the fabric from adhering to one another.

Drying of the adhesive on the back of fabric is facilitated by disposing heating tubes 6 adjacent the fabric; these tubes are covered by plates 7 mounted on hinges 11 so that they can be turned back to facilitate the introduction of the fabric; a pipe 8 communicating with the hopper B provides for extracting the vapors from the solvent by the suction pump of the machine.

A roller 9 preferably movable vertically in guides 10, but which can be held stationary if desired, prevents wrinkling of the fabric between the rollers 3 and Q.

For the purpose of removing any humidity which the threads may contain before reaching the machine, the cylinders E, E shown 1n Fig. are replaced by drums E and E of large diameter and heated by hot water or steam. The threads B and B are conducted by combs D and D below rollers e and e and are applied against the drums E and E and they pass over sufficient of the surfaces of said drums for the heat of said drums to assure their drying. The

threads are then conducted to the comb F and conveyed by the movement of the machine.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The method of producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length, consisting in feeding two groups of warps of equal width, each comprising an equal number of threads, through means whereby the warps in one of the groups are severally interposed between the warps in the other group, applying adhesive substance to the warps, and then passing them under slight pressure around a drying cylinder.

2. A machine' for producing a web of weftlem fabric of indefinite length, comprising in combination means for guiding warp threads, means for tensioning said threads, means for placin saidthreads par- 5 allel with each other in c ose juxtaposition, means for applying adhesive substance to said parallel threads, means for drying said adhesive substance, and take-up means for continuously removing the web from said 1 drying means.

3. A machine for roducing a web of weftless fabric of inde ite length, comprising in combination means for guiding warp threads, means for tensioning said threads,

1 5 means for placing said threads parallel with each other in close juxtaposition, means for applying adhesive substance to one side of said parallel threads, means for drying said adhesive substance, means for applying ad- 2 hesive substance to the other side of said parallel threads, means for drying the last mentioned adhesive substance, and take-up means for continuously removing the web from the last-mentioned dryingmeans.

: 4.A machine for producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length comprisingin combination means for guiding two groups of warp threads toward each other, means whereby the threads in one of said 3, groups are severally interposedbetween the t reads in the other oup, means for placing said threads para lel with each other in close juxtaposition, means for a plying adhesive substance to said paral e1 threads,

35' means for drying said adhesive substance and take-u means for continuously removing the we from said drying means.

5. A machine for producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length comprising in combination means for guiding two groups of warp threads toward each other,

means whereby the threads in one of said groups are severally interposed between the threads in the other group, means for placing said threads parallel with each other in close juxtaposition, means for applying adhesive substance to one side of said arallel threads, means for drying said adhesive substance, means for applying adhesive substance to the other side of said parallel threads, means for drying the last'mentioned adhesive substance, and take-u means for continuously removing the we from the last-mentioned drying means.

6. A machine for producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length, comprising in combination means for guiding two groups of warp threads toward each other in two converging planes, a guide comb disposed in the path of said converging warp threads, having oblique teeth whereby the threads in one of said groups are severally interposed between the threads of the other group, means for guiding said threads from said comb parallel with each other and in close juxtaposition, means for applying adhesive substance to one side of said arallel threads, means for drying said adhesive substance, and take-up means for continuously removing the web from said drying means.

7. A machine for producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length, comprising in combination means for guiding two groups of warp threads toward each other in two converging planes, a guide comb disposed in the path of said converging warp threads, having oblique teeth whereby the threads in one of said groups are severally interposed between the threads of the other group,means for guiding said threads from said comb parallel with each other and in close juxtaposition, means for applying adhesive substance to one side of said parallel threads, means for drying said adhesive substance, means for applying adhesive substance to the other side of said parallel threads, means for drying the last-mentioned adhesive substance, and take-up means for continuously removing the web from the last-mentioned drying means.

8. A machine for roducing a web of weftless fabric of inde nite length, comprising in combination two groups of spindle holders, each group disposed in an arc of a circle and the two groups facing each other, guide combs, one for each holder, for guid- 1ng warp threads coming from said holders, two parallel guide combs between said groups of holders, one for each group, for gathering and guiding all the threads coming from the first-mentioned guide combs, means for drawin the Warp threads in converging planes om both said parallel'guide combs, a comb in the ath of said converging threads, having 0 lique teeth whereby the threads coming from one of said parallel combs are severally inter osed between the threads coming from tile other parallel comb, means for applying an adheslve substance to the threads comin from said oblique toothed comb, means %or drying said adhesive substance, and take-u means for continuously removing the we from said drying means. 7

9. machine for roducing a web of Weftless fabric of inde nite length, comprising in combination two groups of spindle" holders, each group disposed inan are of a circle and the two groups facin each other, guide combs, one or each hol er, for guiding warp threads coming from said holders, two parallel guide combs between said groups of holders, one for each grou for gathering and guiding all the three s coming from the first mentioned guide combs, means for drawing the warp threads in converging planes from both said parallel guide combs, a comb in the path of said converging threads, having oblique teeth whereby the threads coming from one of said parallel combs are severally interposed between the threads coming from the other parallel comb, means for applying an adhesive substance to one side of the threads coming from said oblique toothed comb, means for drying said adhesive substance, means for applying an adhesive substance to the other side of said threads, means for drying the last-mentioned adhesive substance, and take up means for continuously removing the web from the last-mentioned drying means.

10. A machine for producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length, comprisin in combination two groups of spindle ho ders, each group disposed in an arc of a circle and the two groups facing each other, guide combs, one for each holder, for guiding warp threads coming from said holders, two parallel guide combs between said groups of holders, one for each group, for gathering and uiding all the threads coming from the rst-mentioned guide combs two pairs of guide cylinders between said parallel combs, one pair adjacent each comb, means for drawing the warp threads in con verging planes from said guide cylinders, a comb in the path of said converging threads, having oblique teeth whereby the threads coming from one of said parallel combs are severally interposed between the threads com ing from the other parallel comb, means for applying an adhesive substance to the threads coming from said oblique toothed comb, means for drying said adhesive substance, and take-up means for continuously removing the web from said drying means.

11. A machine for producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length, comprising in combination two groups of spindle holders, each group disposed in an arc of a circle and the two groups facing each other,

uide combs, one for each holder. for guidlng warp threads coining flZQfli'Sfllt'l holders, two parallel guide combs, between said groups of holders, one for each group for gathering and guiding all the threads commg from the first mentioned guide combs, a cylinder having its axis in a plane intermediate of said parallel combs, a guide comb having oblique teeth whereby warp threads passing from one of said parallel combs to said cylinder are severally interposed be tween warp threads passing from the other parallel comb to said cylinder, means for applying an adhesive substance to warp threads coming from said cylinder, means for drying said adhesive substance, and takeup means for continuously removing the Web from said drying means.

12. A machine for producing a web of weftless fabric of indefinite length, c i

in in combination two groups of spindle ho ders, each group disposed in an arc of a circle and the. two groups facing each other, guide combs, one for each holder for guiding warp threads coming from said holders, two parallel guide combs between said groups of holders, one for each group, for gathering and guiding all the threads comin from the first-mentioned guide combs, a cy inder having its axis in a plane intermediate of said parallel combs, a guide comb having oblique teeth whereby warp threads passing from one of said parallel combs to said cylinder are severally interposed be tween warp threads passing from the other arallel comb to said cylinder, a guide bar etween said oblique toothed comb and said cylinder whereby the threads are bent to an angle between said comband cylinder mcaus for applying an adhesive substance to warp threads coming from said cylinder, means for drying said adhesive substance and takeup means for continuousiy removing the web from said drying means,

13. A machine for producing a, We of \veftless fabric of indefinite length, comprising in combination two groups of spindle holders, each group disposed in an arc of a circle and the two groups facing each 0th? guide combs, one for each holder, for guiding warp threads coming from said holders,

two parallel guide combs between said groups of holders, one for each group, for gathering and guiding all the threads comin from the first-uientioiual guide combs, a cylinder having its axis in a plane interine- (hats off said parallel combs, a guide. comb having oblique teeth whereby warp threads passing from one of said parallel combs to said cylinder are severally interposed be tween warp threads passing from the other parallel comb to said cylinder, means for applying an adhesive substance t m; side of the warp threads coming from said cylinder, a drum arranged to receive on 1), por tion. oi its ciri'aimferencc the warp threads treated with adhesive substance, means for heating said drum, and take-up means for continuously removing the web iron, said drum.

14. A machine for prraiucing a web of we ltless fabric of indefinite length, if' HilPFlS- ing in combination two groups of" spindle holders, each group disposed in an arc of a. circle and the two groups facing each other, guide combs, one for each holder, for guiding warp threads coming from said holders,

two parallel guide combs between said groups of holders, one for each group. or

athering and uiding all the threads coming from the rat-mentioned gui 'le combs, a cylinder having its axis in a plane intermediate ot" said parallel combs. a guide. comb having oblique teeth whereby warp threads passing from one of said parallel combs to said cylinder are severally interposed between warp threads passing from the other parallel comb to said cylinder, means for applying an adhesive substance to one side of the warp threads coming from said cylinder, a drum arranged to receive on a portion of its. circumference the warp threads treated with adhesive, substance, means for heati said drum, means i'ur applylng an adhesive substance to the other nesse's.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two wit- EUGENE BOURDIN. Witnesses:

JEAN GERMAIN,

BENOIT MERMAY. 

